The use of a wheelchair is essential to Petey’s ability to exist outside the confines of a bed, and they are symbolic of the nature of his care, inadequate but functional enough to suffice in the minds of those who make decisions for him. Because he is immobile, wheelchairs symbolize Petey’s only means of engaging and interacting with the world. Through their use, Petey can look out the window, spend time with Calvin, and in later years participate in activities at the hospital that would be impossible without this essential mode of transportation for him.

The first intercession on Petey’s behalf was by Joe, who insisted on getting Petey up and out of bed and into a wheelchair. When Owen arrives on Ward 18 decades later, he is forced to exert greater efforts to return Petey to a life upright in a chair instead of in bed to ensure Petey gets to experience as much of his limited world as possible. Trevor goes further still; now that Petey is in a less restrictive environment, his wheelchair undergoes more significant wear and must be upgraded to fit in with Petey’s new lifestyle. The resistance these caregivers encounter is indicative of the condition of helplessness Petey is relegated to; he is at the mercy not only of his need for a wheelchair but also his need for understanding and advocacy.